GEN Austria is the Austrian network group linked to the global ecovillage network. They are creating a platform for people living or interested in communal living. The systematic presented on the VISIpedia graphic ‚Ecovillage‘ was a helpful tool during their latest team meeting.

Workshop at the CAMBIA festival in Vienna

In very nice atmosphere people’s attention wandered from Tai Chi to interesting podiums discussion to a hanging massage to individual conversations and back.

Even though the VISIpedia team had to dive into the ‚down to earth‘ basement with fresh temperatures, a group of eight participants followed and dove into the process. Following a series of questions people explored their project ideas and pinned them down. After just 1 h everyone had identified important elements to create a ‚one page‘ or a possible poster!

Coming weekend the Pioneers of Change, a great Austrian network, will host the CAMBIA Festival! Motto is ‚inner growth & outer radiance‘.

Valerie Seitz from VISIpedia will give a workshop on how to use the pattern strategy that stands behind the VISI graphics to capture your personal project. The aim is to harvest the essential elements, get clear on the main dynamics and present this on an attractive poster.

The latest network meeting of GEN Austria took place in a nice revitalized building in the Künstlergasse in the 15th district. A group initiated a community light project there with shared flats, a communal space in the basement and a great roof top garden. After a tour through the place, Sandro Langholz shared some of his video footage he took during his travels in the past year. Focusing on self-sufficiency he visited small farms and co-housing projects in the south of Germany and Austria. The audience consisted of experienced community members as well as total ’newbies‘, which was a great base for sharing questions and answers.

Zukunftssymposium 2015 at GUT Landersdorf

Zukunftssymposium GUT Landersdorf

Good conversations around Ecovillage living

On October 17th an interesting crowd of locals, regional organizers and sustainable net workers gathered in Landersdorf to share their thinking around regional development. In the focus was the question: how to create creative cultural dynamics on an educational and economical level in the area aiming for a resilient system adopting to the challenges we face.
In the open space time in the afternoon Valerie Seitz shared some related strategies she got to know in her studies on ecovillages world wide. And of course, the VISIpedia graphic on ecovillages was again helpful there.

The international Permaculture Convergence was a special event! More than 500 fans of this great ecosocial strategy gathered on the outskirts of London in Gilwell Park to share and discuss topics as: rocket stoves, social permaculture, how to teach kids etc.

A strong thread through the event was the discussion on what to do about climate change!? As disturbing as the reports were from people living close to the shore or in areas with wired new weather phenomenons, there was also such a richness of experience and knowledge in the circle that I left the event alerted, but optimistic.

The VISIpedia graphic ‚Ecovillage‘ was met with interest and several people signed up for the newsletter and info on the next VISI which will show the Permaculture Strategy on one poster!

The GEN + 20 Conference in Findhorn, Scotland was a amazing gathering with people from all over the world: representatives of experienced and new communities, networks of all the continents, permaculturist, scientist – all sharing their experiences, views and questions.

The VISIpedia Graphic ‚Ecovillage‘ was received with enthusiasm. Teachers, project leaders and planners could see where to use the new poster in their professional settings. Potential cooperation were started and there is talk about translating the graphic into other languages.